Protest

Students organizing a Saturday demonstration to preserve the Fun Zone have disassociated themselves from the Occupy movement. Organizer Courtney Brown, a Corona del Mar High School sophomore, changed the name from Project: Occupy the Fun Zone to Project: Save the Fun Zone on Friday. While it's not clear exactly why the group changed names, comments on the event's Facebook page provide a hint. One poster suggested camping out at the Fun Zone like Occupy groups have done around the world, and another quickly pointed out that some Occupy groups were turning violent, and it could be a mistake to be even loosely affiliated with the movement.

The signs of protest clutched by regular demonstrators at Bristol Street and Anton Boulevard in Costa Mesa were replaced by candles Monday evening as about 40 community members gathered to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq. Sponsored by MoveOn.org, the vigil aimed to honor American troops and Iraqis who have been killed or wounded since the invasion, and demonstrate opposition to the conflict. "There has to be a common knowledge that there are a lot of people who are opposed to this war," said Natasha Hull-Richter, 15, whose family organized the demonstration.

NEWPORT COAST - A weekend of worldwide protest spilled over into Orange County on Monday morning as about 40 left-leaning activists protested House Speaker John Boehner's visit to the Pelican Hill Golf Club. "He knows he can't go anywhere without the people going with him," said Rick Jacobs, founder of the Courage Campaign, a progressive group. "I hope that even while he's up there, raking in millions in cash, he knows there's people here and everywhere. "We're going to make clear that this isn't a funny time anymore.

Local political activists are planning to meet Mitt Romney's visit to Newport Beach on Friday with a mocking wink and nudge when they dress up as faux-billionaires to protest the wealthy's influence in Washington politics. Led by 29-year-old entrepreneur and event organizer Christian Larsen, the "Billionaires for Romney" group will protest the Republican presidential candidate's fundraising visit to the Balboa Bay Club and Resort at 5:30 p.m. across the street. "We want to draw attention to the dangers of unchecked Wall Street power to the 99%," Larsen wrote in a news release, "and Romney, with his plans to cut capital gains tax and privatize Social Security, is a perfect target.

Members of the Minuteman Project are expected to protest this morning against illegal immigration and health-care reform in front of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. “We call upon the citizens of Orange County, as well as across the nation, to take action — become proactive — by visiting their local hospitals and calling upon the medical staff of hospitals to petition [President Obama] to deny illegal [immigrants] hospital services and the medical services that is [sic]

Deirdre Newman A small protest of alleged discrimination by Cirque du Soleil took place Friday before the opening night of "Varekai." Seven people held signs and handed out fliers and stickers in protest of Cirque du Soleil firing a cast member from performing because he disclosed that he is HIV-positive. The protest stems from a federal discrimination complaint Lambda Legal filed in July against Cirque du Soleil on behalf of Matthew Cusick.

Deirdre Newman Matthew Cusick was fired from Cirque du Soleil last spring after disclosing that he had HIV. Thursday, Cusick attended a protest on his behalf outside the tents for Cirque du Soleil's latest show, "Varekai," accusing the company of discrimination. The protest came on the heels of a smaller protest held on opening night. About 30 protesters were on hand Thursday from groups like Lambda Legal and the Orange County Gay and Lesbian Center.

A group of protesters marched from Costa Mesa's Westside to Triangle Square on Saturday, rallying against the city's stance on illegal immigration and the closing of the job center. The march, advertised online, with leaflets and by word of mouth, drew a growing crowd of about 40 people and lasted less than two hours. "We feel that the closure of the job center, the intention of closure, was hateful," said Scott Sink, spokesman for Santa Ana-based Tonantzin Collective, the group that organized Saturday's protest.

One of the rights that Islam acknowledges and upholds for the citizens is the right of protest and opposition to the policies of government. This right has been acknowledged by Imam Ali, the successor to the prophet, and other successors: that people are free to voice their opposition and disagreement with the government and the government should respect this right. The value of the human being lies in having the right of disagreement and the diversity of opinions.

Confronted with nearly 600 protesters upset over a proposal to join Irvine in "friendship" with city of Nha Trang in Vietnam, Irvine City Council members Tuesday night voted to revise their rules for choosing cities to be friends with. After more than five hours of debate, the council voted 3 to 2 to draw up new criteria for forming "friendship city" ties. The new rules would exclude municipalities in countries that do not respect human rights or democratic values. They also chose not to enter into "friendship city" relationships with Karachi, Pakistan, or Baoji, China.

An administrator for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District resigned Wednesday after alleging the school district badly mishandled a computer-hacking scandal that resulted in the expulsion of 11 students. Jane Garland, who was deeply involved in the case for months as the district's head of discipline, said the district ignored her recommendations to give the students a lighter punishment. "They didn't stop to think about it," she said. "They went ahead, and these children got destroyed in the newspapers.

On a barren stretch of road on the edge of Irvine, a tasteful brown sign topped with a whimsical orange bicycle announces that a long-anticipated addition to the city is finally underway: the thousands of elegant new homes around the perimeter of the city's planned Great Park. The park itself will also soon grow, now that a plan to build 688 acres has been approved. And a long-awaited high school nearby is expected to open in 2016, according to the Los Angeles Times . Just down the road, another long-stalled project is also finally underway - the addition of hundreds of jail beds to a county lockup once so rustic it was known as "The Farm.

MTV has agreed to make changes to its controversial new reality series “Scrubbing In” after several nonprofit nursing organizations protested how the show depicts the profession. The remaining episodes will be edited to include more scenes that highlight nursing skills and the show has also been moved from 10 p.m. to midnight, where viewership will be decreased, Variety reported. MTV will also consult with the nonprofit The Truth About Nurses regarding any future nurse-related programming and promote a Web feature called “Day in the Life of a Nurse.” The show, which debuted Oct. 24, follows nine nurses from different parts of the country as they immerse themselves in Orange County life.

Not long after anti-abortion protesters gathered outside the home of a local doctor, Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday will discuss a proposed ordinance that addresses picketing at residences. City officials said protests within residential neighborhoods have increased in recent years, and the ordinance would create a 300-foot "buffer zone" to ensure a reasonable distance between those protesting and their target, according to a city staff report. The measure would allow the protesters to be close enough to their intended audience, while also preserving the sanctity of the targeted homes and preventing the residents from becoming "captives in their own homes," according to the report.

More than 100 people demonstrated Monday morning outside the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach to push for inclusion in federal immigration reform legislation of a pathway to American citizenship. The protesters spent nearly two hours outside the West Coast Highway resort to attempt to influence U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia), who was attending a meeting there, said the Rev. Sarah Halverson of the Costa Mesa-based Fairview Community Church. Goodlatte is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

About 50 to 100 anti-abortion protesters wrote messages in chalk and shouted slurs outside the home of a Newport Beach obstetrician Thursday night. The protest began at about 8 p.m. outside the Dover Shores home of Richard Agnew, who is affiliated with Hoag Hospital, authorities said. Agnew was one of a slate of Hoag Hospital-affiliated doctors to oppose the institution's recent decision to eliminate elective abortion services in the wake of its affiliation with Catholic health system St. Joseph Health.

The city of Newport Beach plans to open its new Civic Center to great fanfare Saturday. But opponents of the recent decision to raise rental rates on residential piers plan to protest outside of the opening-day ceremony. "We are asking you to be physically involved," according to statement from Stop the Dock Tax. "We appreciate your monetary generosity, but now is the time for you to physically support our cause with your personal appearance at our rally to protest to the cost of the city hall.

In closed session, the Newport Beach City Council rejected claims that it had violated open-meeting laws when it increased residential dock fees late last year. And later in Tuesday night's meeting, the council effectively closed the book on the issue when it adopted a handful of follow-up measures to implement the rent changes. With only Councilwoman Leslie Daigle dissenting, and Councilman Ed Selich recusing himself from the discussion, the group voted to change municipal code to allow residential pier owners to rent out their docks; delete the existing flat $100 inspection fee to make way for the new rent structures; and establish an appeals process for pier owners who disagree with the city's calculation of their new rents.

Protest the protest. That's been the rallying motto as of late for the organizers of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade amid an organized effort to boycott the 104-year-old tradition. And, by most accounts, it's working. More than 90 boats have signed up this year to make the nearly 14-mile run through Newport Harbor. The Balboa Bay Club and Resort was brimming with activity during the parade's opening night Wednesday, and according to one official's estimate, a "jillion" homeowners will decorate their abodes with lights.